Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cricket Tournament Final:

Maharoof, Dickwella, Pradeep STEER WAYAMBA TO WIN

Sajeewa Jayakody

Farveez Maharoof	Niroshan Dickwella	Nuwan Pradeep

Centurions Niroshan Dickwella (104), Farveez Maharoof (112) and speedster Nuwan Pradeep (5/46) steer Wayamba to victory against Kandurata-Uva Combined by 133 runs in the Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cricket Tournament final at NCC grounds yesterday.

After sent into bat, Wayamba showed superb batting display as NCC opener Niroshan Dickwella and Farveez Maharoof in their home grounds, put up a massive 157-run partnership for the second wicket. The 19-year-old Dickwella, who won the prestigious ‘Sunday Observer Schoolboy Cricketer Award 2012’, batted brilliantly in the 91-ball knock and the former Trinity skipper cracked 13 fours in his solid innings.

Sri Lanka all-rounder, who bats at number three in domestic matches, displayed his batting prowess by scoring 112 runs facing 121 deliveries with eight fours and two sixes.

The fast bowling all-rounder, whose long-term back injury deprived him in earning a place in the national side, started bowling in the semi-final match after a lapse of three months and bowled two overs yesterday.

Jehan Mubarak, the leading run getter in the tournament with 300 runs in just 248 balls, during his five innings, scored a brisk 44-ball 77. Left handed Mubarak hit four sixes and seven fours.

The 31-year-old strong backfoot player, smashed 13 sixes in the tournament, the highest by any batsmen behind Chamara Kapugedara’s 11 sixes.The skipper parternered with Maharoof for a 121-run stand maintaining healthy 9.55 run rate per over.

Kandurata-Uva Combined bowlers were sent leather hunt, except Sri Lanka ODI player Sachithra Senanayake’s economical figures as the right arm spinner conceded just 39 runs in his 10 overs.

Dulanjana Mendis, who was the leading wicket taker in the tournament before the final, went wicketless as the left arm spinner gave away 59 runs.

Chasing a daunting 349 target, Kandurata Uva-Combined expected more from opener Dimith Karunaratne and Bhanuka Rajapakse.

Kosala Kulasekara’s early strike removed Karunaratne edging to wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella for 6.

Since then, Kandurata-Uva Combined fell regular intervals and three wickets tumbled for 60. Once again Thilina Kandamby batted sensibly scoring 79 runs in 71 balls with eight fours and a six.

When Kandamby and deserving wicket-keeper batsman Kaushal Silva recovering the innings, Kandurata-Uva had some consolation before right handed Silva’s knock ended after scoring run-a-ball 60. The pair added 88 runs for the fourth wicket in 75 deliveries. Sri Lanka speedster, Nuwan Pradeep wrecked the Kandurata-Uva Combined batting order capturing 5 for 46 runs.

The right armer, who touches 145 kmh mark, became the leading wicket taker in the tournament picking up 13 wickets passing Kandurata-Uva’s Dulanjana Mendis’s 11 wickets.